LOS ANGELES _ A couple accused of torturing, starving and keeping their 13 children captive in their Perris, Calif., home have pleaded guilty to 14 felony counts, including one count of torture, the Riverside County district attorney's office announced Friday.
David and Louise Turpin were arrested in January 2018 after their 17-year-old daughter managed to escape from their home and called 911 using an otherwise deactivated cellphone, authorities said.
Shortly after, Riverside County prosecutors filed dozens of charges against both parents related to allegations of abuse, captivity and torture of the children. They later filed additional charges of child abuse against the couple, along with a charge of felony assault against Louise Turpin and a perjury count against David Turpin.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Bernard Schwartz in June ordered the couple to stand trial after finding that there was sufficient evidence to support 49 of 50 charges brought against the couple.
The couple had pleaded not guilty to all charges last year.
